England and West Indies' players support the cause for social equality.
West Indies’ hard-hitting all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite believes that taking a knee to protest racial injustice is not enough, as he called for legislative change to fight racial discrimination in society.
The worldwide gesture of athletes and sportspeople taking a knee – started by the by American football quarterback Colin Kaepernick, in support of the Black Lives Matter movement is nothing more than “cosmetic”, claimed Brathwaite on Thursday (July 2).
Read Also: ENG v WI 2020: England players to also wear 'Black Lives Matter' logo on their shirts
Taking a knee has become a popular symbol to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement which gained momentum across the world after the death of George Floyd in police custody in the United States of America – which has sparked protests worldwide with the personalities across sport have been supporting the campaign to protest racial injustice.
West Indies and England players will also wear a Black Lives Matter logo on their playing shirts in the upcoming Test series starting on July 8 in Southampton to support the Black Lives Matter movement.
However, Brathwaite feels that supporting the Black Lives Matter movement isn’t enough to overthrow racial discrimination, saying if people want real change, there should be laws introduced in order to curtail racism in society across the world.
Brathwaite told BBC Sport: “Taking a knee in isolation or wearing a badge in isolation is not enough, it is the reprogramming and reconfiguring of the mindset. For me it's just cosmetic – that may ruffle a few feathers. The biggest change needs to be legislative and needs to be the reprogramming of the wider society.”
He further explained, “Why is it that we go on a plane and see someone with a massive beard and we think, terrorists? When we see a black guy in the supermarket, we automatically think he will shoplift, and as a result, have the guards trail him? That is a bigger discussion – how we reprogram our mindsets around those sorts of thoughts is a bigger discussion than just taking a knee.”
Meanwhile, Barbados-born Jofra Archer has emerged as a star pacer for England and Brathwaite believes that his success will pave the way for many more Archers.
Referring to the 2019 World Cup final super over bowled by Archer, he said: “There’s been talk in the media about the marginalization of the black cricketer in England.”
Brathwaite signed off by saying, “A black player spearheaded that charge and was there at the most important moment to execute and bring the cup home. His success now provides a pathway for another Jofra Archer and another Jofra Archer.”
(With BBC Sport Inputs)